This Day in Georgia History

August 02, 1983

Legislation to Make MLK Birthday a National Holiday

By a vote of 338-90, the U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation designating the third Monday in January as a federal holiday to honor the birth of Martin Luther King, Jr. The legislation - HR 3706 - was then sent to the U.S. Senate, which passed the bill on Oct. 19 by a 78-22 vote. The bill was sent to President Ronald Reagan, who signed the bill on Nov. 2, 1983, as Public Law No. 98-144.